Chicken Pox or something else? Spots on hands and feet.

**Calluna** · October 22nd, 2010, 07:04 AM

DS had a very unsettled night last night and woke this morning with about 6 spots on his right hand and 3 or 4 on each foot. They look like mosquito bites but kind of blistery. I thought they were just mosquito bites (there was a mozzie in his room last night) until I noticed them on his feet which were inside his socks and sleeping bag.

He doesn't get much contact with other children but we did go to a birthday party on Saturday and got a message on Wednesday that one of the children there has chicken pox.

Any idea's what it might be? The spots dont seem to be anywhere else on his body yet.

**Tinks** · October 22nd, 2010, 07:06 AM

Sounds like it could be Hand Foot and Mouth Disease.

Enchanted · October 22nd, 2010, 07:08 AM

I agree with Tinks, sounds very much like Hand Foot & Mouth.

**boomba** · October 22nd, 2010, 07:09 AM

:yeahthat: thats what I thought too hun! i think it is highly contaigious so be careful! Not sure on treatment though?

poor bubba xx

**Loula** · October 22nd, 2010, 07:18 AM

Yep sounds like hand foot and mouth. How is he feeding? Nothing you can do for HF&M just ride it out. Sometimes the blisters are right down their throat.

At work we accept children with HF&M still but all blisters must be covered. I think this is to prevent spread.

**luna moth** · October 22nd, 2010, 08:41 AM

At work we accept children with HF&M still but all blisters must be covered. I think this is to prevent spread.

Really? We don't - they're sent home straight away until all the blisters have dried. We wash every possible item that may have come into contact with the infected child, and when I was working and pg I wasn't even allowed to touch any of it.

But, yeah, that's what it sounds like to me too. Some kids are really bothered by it, some couldn't care less. But it is very contagious.

**Trillian** · October 22nd, 2010, 08:56 AM

I had 3 of mine come down with HF&M a few months ago. DS1 couldn't eat for nearly a week because his mouth was full of ulcers. He had it the worst. DD1 and DS2 only had two mouth ulcers and a few spots on their feet but because they didn't have a lot of signs, I didn't realise they'd had it until DS1 got it. I kept DS home from school for a week - not much point him going when he couldn't eat properly because he wouldn't have been able to concentrate and his feet were really itchy as well, so I made salt baths for him to put his feet in which helped. But it is one of the things they need to exclude for. Toss out his toothbrush and get him 2 new ones - one to use while he has it and another one for when it's gone. Don't put him in the bath with anyone else and change his towel daily.

I didn't take them to the Dr - nothing they can do for it you just have to ride it out unfortunately but it sounds like your little fella only has a mild case.

**black_rose** · October 22nd, 2010, 07:19 AM

There isn't anything you can to treat the spots just wash your hands after each nappy change so you don't get it. He is contagious until the spots have broken and dried out. He probably won't eat either if the spots are in his mouth.

**Nai** · October 22nd, 2010, 08:05 AM

Check inside his cheeks for spots but yeah sounds like hand, foot & mouth to me too.

**Calluna** · October 22nd, 2010, 08:36 AM

Thanks ladies.
We're taking him to the doctor this afternoon so we'll find out for sure then.
It doesn't seem to be bothering him at all. He never scratches mozzie bites either though. So who knows.
He's happier today than he's been all week.
He's ate breakfast normally and is breastfeeding fine so hopefully it's just a mild case.

How long does it take to clear up?
Is it uncomfortable, itchy, sore?

**Tinks** · October 22nd, 2010, 08:40 AM

My kids had it once and they weren't even sick. They only had a few spots on their hands and feet and some around their mouth. I don't remember any being in their mouth but this was a long time ago so it's possible that I have forgotten.

If he has a temp or is feeling uncomfortable give him some panadol. I doubt you'll have to though.

**Pandora** · October 22nd, 2010, 08:51 AM

Go to gp. With hfm if that's what it is you little on should jaw a lot more blister within a few hours. If this doesn't happen, while it could be hfm it may be something else.

Chicken pox is 14-21 days incubation so if it's that, it wasn't contracted on the weekend.

**black_rose** · October 22nd, 2010, 10:42 AM

Audax my centre was the same, they couldn't get rid of it so they had to exclude siblings too.

**Calluna** · October 22nd, 2010, 12:56 PM

The spots are spreading up his arms and legs. Doctors in 30mins. *waits*

**boomba** · October 22nd, 2010, 01:23 PM

Good luck hun..maybe it is chicken pox?????

x

**Calluna** · October 22nd, 2010, 02:32 PM

The doctor said that it looks like either HF&M or Chicken Pox

He took a sample form one of the blisters and is going to let us know on Monday if it's the pox.
He gave us a fact sheet on both and neither really seem to fit. He doesn't have any of the other sypmtoms for HF&M and the way the spots have spread is totally opposite to what they "should". I guess we'll just have to wait until Monday to find out *Sigh*
He said DF has to stay away from DS until at least Monday because Chiken Pox in adults can be nasty and DF hasn't had them before

Gonna be a fun weekend

ETA - I've got a sore throat now... ARGH!!